Sourcing solid wood coving mouldings from China
Solid wood coving mouldings from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant softwood and hardwood lines. The importer placing timber on the Great Britain market must check legal harvest through timber due diligence; CITES controls depend on the species. Cambridge China Bridge sources solid wood coving mouldings.
Zero duty on solid wood coving
Heading 4409 covers continuously shaped wood, including mouldings, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed. Solid wood coving for the junction between a wall and ceiling falls within this product family. The table separates plain and end-jointed softwood coving under the same code. See the solid wood architraves guide for related mouldings within the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the relevant lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls. Where the species and product are CITES-controlled, obtain the applicable permit and ask your customs broker to confirm the documents needed for shipment from China.
Confirm the species and construction using finding your commodity code. Ask your broker whether the consignment is regulated wood material for plant health purposes; regulated material requires a phytosanitary certificate. Zero customs duty does not remove import VAT, normally 20%. See UK import duty and VAT for the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid softwood coving mouldings | 4409 10 18 00 | 0% | None |
| Solid tropical wood coving mouldings | 4409 22 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other solid hardwood coving mouldings | 4409 29 99 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the coving profile and corner fit
Specify the timber species, moisture content, usable lengths, appearance grade and finish. Supply a dimensioned cross-section showing the curved face, wall and ceiling contact surfaces, installed angle, wall drop and ceiling projection. Agree tolerances and whether end joints are acceptable. Approve a physical sample and trial-fit internal and external corners before production.
Businesses trading in timber and timber products must take steps to ensure that they originate from legal sources. Confirm the applicable UK Timber Regulations due diligence procedure with the relevant authority or your customs broker. Obtain species, country of harvest and supporting legality documents before ordering. Keep the timber records tied to the supplied batch rather than relying on a generic factory certificate.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 metres of solid softwood coving mouldings under 4409 10 18 00, invoiced at £5,400 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,400, so it is £1,680. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Profile and fit: compare samples against the drawing and approved sample, check the rear contact surfaces, and trial-fit corner joints at the agreed installed angle.
Moisture and straightness: measure moisture across bundles against the agreed specification and drying records; check bow, twist, splits and usable lengths on arrival.
Grade and finish: check knots, sapwood, colour variation, machining tear-out and raised grain; inspect primed faces for missed areas and visible end joints.
Packing and records: protect curved faces and ends, check bundles for wetting and crushing, match species and batch records, and ask your customs broker to confirm any treatment and marking requirements for solid wood pallets and crates. Arrange quality inspection against this checklist.
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What goes wrong
A similar-looking curve can have a different installed angle or rear contact surface, leaving gaps against the wall or ceiling and misaligned corners. Cutter wear can change the profile between batches. Check replacement lengths against the retained sample and test the actual corner joint before accepting the shipment.
Coving shipped too wet can shrink, twist or split after installation. Primer can conceal tear-out, filler and end joints until the final coat is applied. Inspect uncoated samples as well as finished lengths, and record damage before bundles are distributed to installers.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on solid wood coving from China?
The relevant softwood, tropical wood and other hardwood lines in heading 4409 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
What timber documents should I ask the Chinese factory for?
Ask for species, country of harvest and supporting legality documents linked to the batch. Businesses trading in timber and timber products must take steps to ensure legal sourcing; confirm the applicable information, risk-assessment and mitigation requirements with the relevant authority or your customs broker.
Do solid wood coving mouldings need a CITES permit?
Check the exact species and product coverage. CITES-controlled timber needs the applicable permit. Ask your customs broker to confirm the documents needed for shipment from China before dispatch.
How do I check whether the coving corners will fit?
Approve the cross-section and installed angle, then trial-fit internal and external corners using production samples. Check the curved face and rear contact surfaces against the retained sample.